Kandla SEZ became the first Green SEZ

• Kandla SEZ (KASEZ) was awarded IGBC Platinum Rating.
• KASEZ is the First Green SEZ to achieve the IGBC Green Cities Platinum Rating for Existing Cities.
• The efforts of the KASEZ team were applauded especially noting the fact that this was accomplished in the Bhuj region where water conservation and afforestation are critical interventions.
• This was a major achievement and is part of activities envisaged under the commitment of the Government to the Green SEZs Mission as part of celebrations marking India@75 - Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav.
• It may be noted that the Government of India working towards ensuring environmentally sustainable development through a series of measures and efforts that encompass many Ministries.
• IGBC Platinum rating has been awarded for ‘Green master planning, policy initiatives and implementation of green infrastructure by CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
• The recognition is set to pave way for all the other SEZs in the country to emulate the green initiative and efforts of Kandla SEZ.

To read everything about SEZ: Click here

Steps taken by the Government to promote Agriculture Sector in Education

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that to promote agriculture sector through Education, 63 State Agricultural Universities, 3 Central Agricultural Universities, 4 Deemed to be Universities and 4 Central Universities with agriculture faculty are working in the country.
• ICAR has also informed that in order to promote agricultural education and attract students in agricultural education, various National/International scholarships are provided to students at different levels.
• Further, the National Education Policy, 2020 envisions that both capacity and quality of agriculture and allied disciplines must be improved in order to increase agricultural productivity through better skilled graduates and technicians, innovative research, and market-based extension linked to technologies and practices.
• The preparation of professionals in agriculture and veterinary sciences through programmes integrated with general education will be increased sharply.
• The design of agricultural education will shift towards developing professionals with the ability to understand and use local knowledge, traditional knowledge, and emerging technologies while being cognizant of critical issues such as declining land productivity, climate change, food sufficiency for our growing population, etc.

Speedy clearance of Exploration Projects

The Government has been making continuous efforts to ensure timely clearances and approvals. Various efforts made by the Government in this regard are:

• The Empowered Coordination Committee (ECC) has been constituted under the Cabinet Secretary for streamlining and speeding up clearances and approvals.
• Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG) vide OM dated 28.02.2020 conveyed approval of Self Certification of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) processes. Twenty-two processes were identified where documents from the Contractors shall be accepted on Self-Certification basis and no approval is required.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has launched PARIVESH, a web based, role based workflow application which has been developed for online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities.
• Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) in consultation with Ministry of Defence/ Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has developed and implemented, e-submission of all applications for MOD related vessel clearance and MHA related expat clearance for Exploration & Production operations.
• Regular meetings are being held in presence of officials from MOP&NG, DGH, State Government to discuss pending issues related to grant of licenses or clearances pertaining to respective States.
• URJA PRAGATI (Upstream Response by Joint Action for proactive Governance and Timely Implementation) web-based interactive portal has been launched recently by DGH to prioritize and flag the long pending issues concerning the upstream hydrocarbon sector involving various stakeholders such as Operators, Central Ministries and State Governments.

NSDM to train a minimum of 300 million skilled people by 2022

Read the complete note on Skill Development Efforts of the Government of India and then continue reading here

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has launched the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) to provide the overall institutional framework to rapidly implement and scale up the skill development efforts across India. NSDM envisages training a minimum of 300 million skilled people by the year 2022.
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship promotes the establishment of model and aspirational skill centres known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) in every district for imparting skill training throughout the country in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• As of 30.06.2021, 812 PMKKs have been allocated across the country, out of which 721 PMKKs have been established.
• Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), short-term training (STT) is being imparted through empanelled training centres (TCs) including PMKKs. As of 10.07.2021, 3,415 TCs are operational across the country that including 721 PMKKs. Targets to TCs are being allocated for approved job roles as per extant guidelines of the scheme and training is being imparted in a batch size of maximum 30 candidates.

Wetlands and Conservation

• Wetlands are the lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or land is covered by shallow water.
• Productivity of Estuaries > Swamp, Marshes, Wetlands > Coral Reefs > Equatorial and Tropical rainforests > Savannah.
• Definition: Areas of marsh, fen, peatland/ water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with static or flowing water, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the "depth of which is < 6 m".
• Waterlogged soil for at least 7 days, adapted plant life (hydrophytes) and hydric soils (not enough Oxygen) are the main characteristics of Wetlands.
• It occupies 18.4% of the area of which 70% is under paddy.
• Inland wetlands are more than Coastal Wetlands in India.
• Natural wetlands in India range from high altitude wetlands in the Himalayas; flood plains of the major river systems; saline and temporary wetlands of arid and semi-arid regions; coastal wetlands like lagoons, backwaters, estuaries, mangroves, swamps and coral reefs.
• There are 5 major wetland types are
  1. Marine (coastal lagoons, rocky shores and coral reefs).
  2. Estuarine (deltas, tidal marshes and mangrove swamps). Salt pans and Aquaculture also come under Wetlands.
  3. Lacustrine (lakes even oxbow lakes, reservoirs, tanks etc.)
  4. Riverine (wetlands along rivers and streams).
  5. Palustrine (marshes, swamps and bogs).
• Functions of Wetlands:
  1. They retain water during dry periods (keeping the water table high) and mitigate floods by trapping suspended solids and nutrients.
  2. Habitat to flora, fauna and migratory birds; filtration of sediments; nutrient recycling; water purification; flood mitigation; maintenance of stream flow; groundwater recharge; drinking water; buffer shorelines against erosion; tourism, recreation and cultural heritage; stabilisation of local climate; livelihood to local people etc.
• Threats to Wetlands: Conversion for Agriculture; Overgrazing; Removal of sand from beds; Aquaculture; Habitat destruction and deforestation; Pollution; Domestic waste and agricultural runoff; industrial effluents and climate change.
• Difference from Lakes:
  1. National Lake Conservation Program (NCLP) considers Lakes as standing water bodies having a minimum water depth of 3 m. Wetlands have depths < 6 m.
  2. Foodchain: Lakes have grazing pathways and Wetlands have detritus pathways.
  3. Productivity and Biodiversity of Wetland > Lakes.
  4. Lakes do not do waste treatment but Wetlands perform waste treatment functions.
  5. Lakes have thermal stratification but not Wetlands.
  6. The dominant producer of lakes is phytoplankton but Wetlands have macrophytes.
  7. Lakes are Oligotrophic while Wetlands are mostly Eutrophic.

Read completely about Ramsar sites and wetlands in India: and then read the following content.

Wetlands (Conservation and Mgt) Rules, 2010

• It specifies activities harmful to Wetlands like industrialization, construction, dumping of untreated waste & reclamation + prohibit these activities in wetlands.
• Central Wetland Regulatory Authority set up to implement rules. (Replaced in 2017 by National Wetland Committee).
• Harvesting & dredging can be carried out with prior permission.

Wetland Rules, 2017

• Wetlands are defined as an area of marsh, fen, peatland or water. It can be natural or artificial, permanent or temporary. It includes areas of marine water with a depth of a maximum 6 m.
• The rules apply to Ramsar Wetlands and those notified by Central, State Govts and UT administration.
• Digital inventory of all wetlands: mandatory for State authorities. Wetland management was given to States and UTs Authority. It is to be updated every 10 years.
• Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) is replaced by National Wetland Committee, which has merely an advisory role. It is to be headed by MoEF Secretary. It will also recommend the designation of Ramsar sites/ Wetlands of International importance.
• It stipulates setting up State Wetlands Authority in each State/ UT headed by State MoEF. It will develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within notified wetlands.
• Restrictions:
  1. Encroachments on wetlands have been banned.
  2. It also prohibits solid waste dumping, and discharge of untreated waste and effluents from industries and human settlements.
• The rules prohibited activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, industries, waste dumping and discharge of untreated wastes and effluents.

National Wetland Inventory and Assesment:

• The 1st scientific national inventory of wetlands in India was carried out by the Space Applications Center (ISRO), Ahmedabad at the behest of MoEF.
• Lakshadweep has the largest % of Wetlands (96.12%) followed by A&N. Gujarat has the highest % (statewide).

Wetlands International

• It is a global organization that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. It is an independent, not for profit organization supported by Govt and NGOs.
• It does not fund. It was founded in 1937 as an International Wildfowl Enquiry. Not under UN.
• Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) across Asia and Australia is coordinated by Wetlands International and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA)

• Over Rs, 1,000 crores have been released for the conservation of 157 wetlands in the country under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA).
• The NPCA is a conservation programme for both wetlands and lakes.
• It is a Centrally-sponsored scheme, currently being implemented by the MoEFCC, and was formulated by merging the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
• Under the NPCA scheme, the central assistance is based on proposals received from state governments, in conformity with the guidelines and budget availability.
• The scheme covers various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lakefront development, in-situ cleaning i.e. desilting and de-weeding, stormwater management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey and demarcation, bio fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation etc.
• Aim & Objectives
  1. It aims at holistic conservation and restoration of lakes & wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement besides improvement in biodiversity and ecosystem through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework.
  2. The scheme would contribute to the reduction of pollution loads and improvement in biodiversity as also the goods and services provided by these water bodies to the stakeholders.

Conservation of Lakes and Rivers

• National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by this Ministry for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country, excluding those in Ganga basin, by providing financial and technical assistance to the States/Union Territories (UTs) on cost sharing basis.
• Rivers and lakes in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with the State Pollution Control Boards/Committees in different States/UTs has been monitoring water quality of rivers and other water bodies in the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
• Based on water quality monitoring results, pollution assessment of rivers has been carried out by CPCB from time to time. As per the last report of CPCB in September, 2018, 351 polluted river stretches were identified on 323 rivers in the country based on monitoring results in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand, an indicator of organic pollution.
• Other than NRCP, the Ministry is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries. Under the Namami Gange programme, a total of 346 projects in Ganga basin States have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.30,235 crore.
• For conservation of lakes and wetlands in the country, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) on cost sharing basis. State/UT wise details of funds released under Namami Gange and NPCA during the last three years are at Annexure-II.

Reforms in the Mining Sector

• Geological Survey of India: For all minerals except Uranium (AMD). It is the largest and most comprehensive provider of basic earth science information or database.
• Indian Bureau of Mines, 1948:
  1. It is under Ministry of Mines with responsibilities for conservation and systematic exploitation of mineral resources other than coal, petroleum and natural gas, atomic minerals and minor minerals.
  2. IBM performs regulatory functions under MMDRA, 1957.
• NALCO is a Navratna company under the Ministry of Mines. The refinery is located at Damanjodi in Koraput district, Odisha.

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957

• It regulates the overall mining sector in India and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases.
• "Minerals” includes all minerals except mineral oils- natural gas and petroleum).
• A person could acquire 1 mining lease for a maximum area of 10 sq km. Center can permit >1 lease.
• A mining lease was granted for a minimum of 20 to a max of 30 years and could be renewed for a period not exceeding 20 years.
• In India, the minerals are classified as minor minerals and major minerals under MMDRA, 1957. Classification is not related to quantum/ availability/ level of production/ mechanization/ EXIM of these minerals but related to relative value and end use of these minerals.

MMDRA (Amendment) Act, 2015

• Center can increase the area limits for mining, instead of providing additional leases.
• The Bill creates a new category of mining license i.e. the prospecting license-cum-mining lease. The state govt shall grant prospecting license-cum-mining leases for both notified and other minerals. Prospecting license-cum-mining lease for notified minerals (like bauxite, iron ore, limestone and manganese ore) shall be granted with the approval of the Centre. The holder of this licence may transfer the lease to any eligible person, with the approval of the state govt.
• The Center shall prescribe the terms and conditions, and procedure for auction, including parameters for the selection of bidders.
• Center may reserve particular mines for a specific end use and allow only eligible end users.
• Bill provides for the creation of a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and a National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 15, 2021. The Bill amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Act regulates the mining sector in India.

• Removal of restriction on end-use of minerals:
  1. The Act empowers the central government to reserve any mine (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals) to be leased through an auction for a particular end-use (such as an iron ore mine for a steel plant). Such mines are known as captive mines.
  2. The Bill provides that no mine will be reserved for a particular end-use.

6. Sale of minerals by captive mines:
   1. The Bill provides that captive mines (other than atomic minerals) may sell up to 50% of their annual mineral production in the open market after meeting their own needs.
   2. The central government may increase this threshold through a notification.
   3. The lessee will have to pay additional charges for minerals sold in the open market.
7. Auction by the central government in certain cases:
   1. Under the Act, states conduct the auction of mineral concessions (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals).
   2. Mineral concessions include mining leases and prospecting license-cum-mining leases.
   3. The Bill empowers the central government to specify a time period for completion of the auction process in consultation with the state government.
   4. If the state government is unable to complete the auction process within this period, the auctions may be conducted by the central government.
8. Transfer of statutory clearances:
   1. Upon expiry of a mining lease (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals), mines are leased to new persons through auction.
   2. The statutory clearances issued to the previous lessee are transferred to the new lessee for a period of two years.
   3. The new lessee is required to obtain fresh clearances within these two years.
   4. The Bill replaces this provision and instead provides that transferred statutory clearances will be valid throughout the lease period of the new lessee.
9. Allocation of mines with expired leases:
   1. The Bill adds that mines (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals), whose lease has expired, may be allocated to a government company in certain cases.
   2. This will be applicable if the auction process for granting a new lease has not been completed, or the new lease has been terminated within a year of the auction.
   3. The state government may grant a lease for such a mine to a government company for a period of up to 10 years or until the selection of a new lessee, whichever is earlier.
10. Rights of certain existing concession holders:
    1. In 2015, the Act was amended to provide that mines will be leased through an auction process.
    2. Existing concession holders and applicants have been provided with certain rights including:
       1. Right to obtain a prospecting licence or mining lease to a holder of reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence (issued before commencement of the 2015 Amendment Act), and
       2. right for grant of mining lease where the central government had given its approval or letter of intent was issued by the state government before the commencement of the 2015 Amendment Act.
    3. The Bill provides that the right to obtain a prospecting license or a mining lease will lapse on the date of commencement of the 2021 Amendment Act.
    4. Such persons will be reimbursed for any expenditure incurred towards reconnaissance or prospecting operations.
11. Extension of leases to government companies:
    1. The Act provides that the period of mining leases granted to government companies will be prescribed by the central government.
    2. The Bill provides that the period of mining leases of government companies (other than leases granted through auction) may be extended on payment of an additional amount prescribed in the Bill.
12. Conditions for lapse of mining lease:
    1. The Act provides that a mining lease will lapse if the lessee:
       1. is not able to start mining operations within two years of the grant of a lease, or
       2. has discontinued mining operations for a period of two years.
    2. However, the lease will not lapse at the end of this period if a concession is provided by the state government upon an application by the lessee.
    3. The Bill adds that the threshold period for lapse of the lease may be extended by the state government only once and up to one year.
13. Non-exclusive reconnaissance permit:
    1. The Act provides for a non-exclusive reconnaissance permit (for minerals other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals).
    2. Reconnaissance means preliminary prospecting of a mineral through certain surveys.
    3. The Bill removes the provision for this permit.

MSME Sector in India

First, complete this lecture by Ankit Sir on the MSME Sector of India. And then read this comprehensive notes. Your retention level will increase exponentially.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act (MSMEDA), 2006

• Ministry of MSME established in 2007. MSME Act, 2006 is 1st-ever legal framework for recognition of the concept of “enterprise” which comprises both manufacturing and service entities.
• The Act also provides a statutory consultative mechanism at the national level.
• The primary responsibility for the promotion and development of MSMEs is of State Govt.
• As per National Sample Survey (NSS), there were 6.3 crore unincorporated non-agricultural MSMEs, excluding those registered under Factories Act, 1948; Companies Act, 1956; Construction Activities of Section F of National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008.
• MSME (Amendment) Bill, 2018
  1. The 2006 Act classifies and regulates enterprises as Micro, small and medium enterprises on the basis of the investment. The 2018 Bill classifies All Enterprises on the basis of Annual Turnover.
  2. Under the Act, the Center may classify micro, tiny or village enterprises as small enterprises. The Bill seeks to extend this to allow their classification as small as well as medium enterprises.

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP): - MoMSME

1. It is a Central Sector Scheme administered by MoMSME. It is a credit-linked subsidy programme by merges 2 schemes namely PM Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Program (REGP).
2. Objectives
   1. Generate continuous and sustainable employment opportunities in both Rural and Urban areas especially to artisans through setting up micro-enterprises.
   2. To facilitate the participation of financial institutions for higher credit flow to the micro sector.
3. Eligibility: > 18 years, 8th pass (for > 10 lakhs in manufacturing and > 5 lakhs for Service sector), SHG and Charitable trusts, Production based cooperatives societies.
4. Features
   1. At the National level: by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
   2. At State Level: by State KVIC Directorates, State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) and District Industries Centres (DICs) and banks.
   3. It is implemented through KVIC and State/ UT KVIB in rural areas and through District Industries Centers (DIC) in Urban and Rural areas in a ratio of 30:30:40 between KVIC/ KVIB/ DIC.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), 1957

• It is a statutory organization under KVIC Act, 1956 the administrative control of the Ministry of MSME.
• It works with regard to khadi and village industries within India and rural development.
• In April 1957, it took over the work of the former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.
• The main objectives of KVIC include:
  1. The social objectives or providing employment in rural areas;
  2. The economic objectives of producing saleable articles, and
  3. The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst people and building up a strong rural community spirit.
• To create a market niche for eco-friendly pure and bio-degradable natural products, the KVIC has introduced 2 new brands viz., “Sarvodaya” and “Khadi”. It has also opened Khadi Gramodyog Bhawans in Australia, Germany, U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Dubai and Singapore.
• Honey Mission by KVIC: KVIC has distributed > 1 lakh bee boxes among farmers and unemployed youths across the country in < 2 years under its 'Honey Mission' initiative.
• Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC): It is a mechanism to fund the Khadi programme. The loan is given at 4% Interest rate and the difference between the Actual rate and 4% is paid by the Center through KVIC.

Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTF SME)

1. Established jointly by Ministry of MSME and SIDBI.
2. To implement Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises.
3. 75% loan amount to bank is guaranteed by Trust Fund.
4. Collateral free loan upto a limit of 1 crore is available for individual MSE on guarantee fee to the bank.
5. Both existing and new enterprises are eligible under the scheme.

Click here to read about ASPIRE and SFURTI scheme for MSMEs.

Other efforts by Government of India

• SIDBI launched ‘Udyami Mitra’ Portal
  1. To improve accessibility of credit and handholding services to MSMEs.
  2. Scheduled Commercial Banks are to ensure a target of 7.5% of ANBC for Micro enterprise,
  3. No collateral security needed for loans upto 10 lakhs to MSE sector.
• Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM): It is a 1 page registration from which constitutes a self declaration format under which MSME will self certify its existence, KYC etc. There is no fee. It will get Udyogi Aadhar Number (UAN).
• RBI's U K Sinha Panel's recommendations on MSME Sector
  1. It has recommended doubling the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh.
  2. This will be extended to borrowers falling under Mudra scheme, SHGs and MSMEs.
  3. The report has also recommended the mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans.
  4. It has also suggested various long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs.
• Ministry of MSMEs implementing International Cooperation (IC) Scheme with the objective of enhancing the competency of MSMEs, capturing new markets for their products, exploring new technologies for improving manufacturing capacity, etc. It is a demand driven scheme under which financial assistance is provided on a reimbursement basis to the eligible State/Central Government Organisations.

Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)

• It is for facilitating the financing of trade receivables of MSMEs from corporate buyers through multiple financers is called TReDS.
• It includes discounting of both invoices as well as Bills of Exchange.
• MSME sellers, Corporate Buyers and Financiers - both banks and Non banks will be direct participants in TReDS.
• It would be governed by regulatory framework put by RBI under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• Who can participate? Whoever has the Capital of Rs. 100 crores out of which at least 40% must belong to promoters themselves for 5 years. Then it is to be reduced to 30% within 10 years and 26% within 12 years.

Financial assistance towards MSMEs in COVID

Government has taken a number initiatives for providing financial assistance to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which inter-alia include measures such as:

• Rs. 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for MSMEs,
• Rs. 4.5 lakh crore Collateral free Automatic Loans under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for businesses, including MSMEs.
• Rs. 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds
• Rs.15,000 crore Special Refinancing Facility for Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) from RBI as a specific response to COVID-19 for on lending/refinancing purposes
• Credit Guarantee Scheme to facilitate loans to 25 lakh persons through Micro Finance Institutions,
• Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs/HFC/MFIs,
• Rs. 90,000 crore partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 for Liabilities of NBFCs/MFIs.

In view of the challenges faced by taxpayers due to the outbreak of Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), the Government of India has taken several taxation related measures for the industries including MSMEs which inter-alia include measures such as :-

• extension of various time limits for compliances and statutory actions under the taxation laws
• extension of date for filing declaration under the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act
• issuance of corporate tax refunds,
• extension of the date of incorporation of eligible start up for claiming deduction under the relevant provisions of income tax act,
• extending the date for making various investment/payment for claiming deduction under Chapter VIA-B of the Income Tax
• Concessional rates of interest in lieu of the normal rate of interest of 18% per annum for delayed tax payments.

Yamuna River Pollution

Read the complete topic about Water pollution and then read this news for the most retention.

• The 22 km stretch of Yamuna from Wazirabad to Okhla in Delhi, which is less than 2% of the river length, accounts for about 80% of the pollution load in the river.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, an environmental flow is the water provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and their benefits where there are competing water uses and where flows are regulated.
• Levels of fecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) is above desirable limits in all points tested in the Yamuna in Delhi, except for Palla where the river enters the Capital, as per a Delhi government report.
• The report submitted to the Union Ministry of Jal Sakti also stated that in the absence of a “minimum environmental flow” (flow of water) of the Yamuna in Delhi, it is very difficult to achieve even bathing quality standards of the river water.
• “Minimum environmental flow for the dilution of the polluted water in the Yamuna in Delhi is required to meet the desired water quality levels in the river for bathing purpose i.e. BOD<3 mg/l and DO>5 mg/l,” the report read.
• For bathing in a river, the desirable level of fecal coliform in the water is 500 MPN/100 ml or lesser, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
• But the level was as high as 1,40,000 MPN/100 ml — 280 times the desired level — at Okhla Barrage, a point along the river in Delhi, as per the report.